Releasable shackle



Aug. 15, 1950 T. J. HENDERSON RELEASABLE SHACKLE Filed Dec. 8, 1945 INVENTOR. THOMAS (/J/ENDERJO/V ATTORNEXV Patented Aug. 15, 1950 UNITED j STATES PATENT OFFl-(ZE 2,518,889 V RELEASABLE' iSHAC KIJE Thomas. J, Henderson, 'Bayport, .N. Y.

Application December 8, 1945,{Sef-ia l"No.-:633j704 iclaims. (01. 24-177.)

' structed and arranged that it .can be released by the fingers of one'hand.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the f-ol-lowi-ng specification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part of this application, and in which Fig. 1 illustrates the shackle in side elevation drawn to a small scale, in use securing the straps of a pararaft kit. The other figures are drawn on a larger scale;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the shackle in closed position;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but partly in section illustrating the latching levers in latching position. The part which is sectioned is taken on the line -4-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a central sectional end elevation of The releasable shackle has been particularly developed in connection with a, pararaft kit release adapted, for instance, to secure a raft to pararaft harness, but it should be understood that it is not limited to such use, but is capable of general application.

. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, parachute straps l0 and II are shown. To these straps is secured a kit securing strap |2 having its ends secured to flattened loops l3 and M of a pair of shackle members z| :and iii. A :kit I1 :is secured by the strap l2. "I,

The shackle member 5 has spaced, substan- .tially fpara'l'lel walls 2.01am :2| having recesses -or notches I 22 :at their free :ends, the other ends of the walls being joined :to each other and the loop I23. l v i Between the walls :latching levers :23 and 114 are mounted on substantially parallel pivots 25 and 26. A spring 2'] is ,-.positioned ibetween the inner ends 28 and 29 0f the I levers, in .soc'kets therein, :and "this spring forces the ends 28 and .29 away tram-each other. EEhis :sprIin-g movement of the latching levers is limited byistops' 3|], 30, which are engaged by lugs 3| on the router sur- .-taces=of;theleyer:ends'28 and529.

,Asshowzn in Figs. .2 and :3, the =ends28 and 19 project ,-latera;l'l5 beyond the sides-ofthe 20 and 2|, and the outer edges of these projecting portions may be serrated or roughened, if desired. These projecting portions of the latching levers are engaged by the fingers of the shackle user and are pressed inwardly to release the shackle in the manner hereinafter described. If desired, the edges of the walls 20 and 2| may be slightly concaved or recessed as shown to facilitate this operation.

The outer ends 32 and 33 of the latching levers 23 and 24 have notches or recesses .34 and 35 which form on the ends of the levers, latching lugs 36 and 31, the upper surfaces of which are flat. The inner ends of the recesses 34 and 35 are offset from or disposed outwardly of the pivots 25 and 26 when the levers are in latching position, asshown in Fig. 4.

The other shackle member l6 comprises the loop l4 and a fixed undercut lug 40 having projecting end portions 4| and 42 adapted to be received within the notches or recesses 34 and 35 of the latching levers 23 and 24 and to be embraced by the lever lugs 36 and 31. Between the lug 40 and the loop I4 is a portion 43 dimensioned in length to fit within the recesses or notches 22 at the ends of the walls 20 and 2|. This portion 43 has projections or flanges 44 and 45 adapted to seat against the ends of the walls in the recessed portions thereof.

The inner fiat surfaces of the lugs 36 and 31 are preferably angled slightly away from the under surfaces of the end portions 4| and 42 of the fixed lug 40 to facilitate the release of the lug when the latching levers are opened and the shackles are under tension. These parts are so arranged that the fixed lug and loop connected thereto will be easily and quickly released from the latching lever lugs when the levers are moved inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6, regardless of the angular position of the shackle. In Fig. 6 the lower loop and fixed lug are shown in full lines at one angle and in dash lines at a different angle, and in Fig. 7 the lower latch member is shown at different transverse angles to illustrate the facility of releasing the latch. When the lower latch member is subjected to a side pull at right angles to the planes of the walls 20, 2|, the projections or flanges 44, 45 of its portion 53 will rock on the upper edges of the notches 22 in the lower ends of the side walls. It will be obvious that the user can easily and quickly release the shackle by pressing two fingers or the thumb and one finger against the ends 28,29 of levers 23 and 24 to force the levers from the position shown.

in Figs. 2 and 4 to the position shown in Fig.6.

It will be obvious also that as the loops l3 and I4 extend laterally beyond the outer ends of the lovers they form a guard which prevents accidental release of the shackle.

-: Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularly illustrated and described-it will be understood that the invention is capable, of modification and that changes-in the construction and in the arrangement of thevari- :ous-cooperating .parts may be made Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

.' 1. A releasable shackle comprising a pair of rshackle members," one member having substanallel walls having aligned notches in their outer ends, the other shackle member having a portion dimensioned to fit said notches, and a latching lug extending laterally beyond said notch-fitting portion into engagement with said lever lugs when said levers are in latching position.

2. A shackle such as that specified in claim 1, in which said notch-fitting portion is arranged to rock upon the inner edges of the notches.

3. A shackle such as that specified in claim 1, in which said levers have outwardly extending portions on the ends remote from the latching lugs arranged to project beyond the walls for engagement by the fingers of the user to release the latch.

4. A shackle such as that specified in claim 3, in which each of the shackle members has a loop extending laterally beyond the outwardly extending portions of the levers.

THOMAS J. HENDERSON.

. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS;

. 24,063 Great Britain Dec. 30, 1892 

